When 'Little Mo' ruled the court

Maureen (Little Mo) Connolly makes a forehand return during doubles-team workout for forthcoming Wightman Cup Matches at Westchester Country Club in Rye, New York, on July 30, 1953l. (Scanned from file art in PL archives)8BIM

Maureen (Little Mo) Connolly makes a forehand return during doubles-team workout for forthcoming Wightman Cup Matches at Westchester Country Club in Rye, New York, on July 30, 1953l. (Scanned from file art in PL archives)8BIM

The year was 1953. Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay became the first explorers to summit Mount Everest. Marilyn Monroe graced the cover of the first Playboy issue, wearing absolutely nothing on the centerfold. An American’s average wage: $3,139.

And in the sports world, an 18-year-old San Diegan accomplished something that had never been achieved before.

Sixty years ago, Maureen Connolly, who grooved her lethal ground strokes on San Diego’s public courts, became the first woman to win tennis’ Grand Slam, capping wins in all four majors in the same calendar year with a triumph in what’s now the U.S. Open.

“I didn’t realize it was 60 years,” said Doris Hart, 88, who lives in Corral Gables, Fla., and fell to Connolly in three of the finals. “My God, I know it’s a long time.”

Like Sandy Koufax, Connolly’s athletic career ended at its zenith because of injury. Less than one year after winning the Grand Slam, Connolly suffered a severe leg injury while horseback riding in Mission Valley. She never played competitive singles again.

While Connolly was one of the greatest female tennis players ever, in totality, her life was a tragic one. She died of cancer in 1969. She was 34.

“You can’t compare players of today against our era. That’s not fair,” Hart said. “But I always said Maureen was the greatest player I played against. Her record proves it. She won everything by 18. Who else has done that?”

A trip Down Under

Winning the Australian Open wasn’t Connolly’s biggest task in ’53. Getting there posed the greater challenge.

The Open era, when players could play for pay, didn’t begin until 1968.

“There was no money. Nothing,” said Hart.

Flying to Australia or taking a luxury liner was not cheap, so the Australian Open attracted thin fields.

Connolly played there once, in ’53.

The grass-court tournament turned out to be a breeze for “Little Mo.” She lost only five games her first four matches. In the finals, she handed fellow Californian Julie Sampson Haywood a 6-3, 6-2 defeat.

Playing other tournaments and exhibitions, Connolly’s trip to Australia lasted three months. Upon her return, The San Diego Union ran a huge photo of the hometown hero, nattily attired in a mid-calf-length skirt, sitting on her suitcase, holding two stuffed-animal souvenirs.

One was a koala bear she named “Who Dat,” the other a kangaroo dubbed “Hopperoo.”

The San Diego Evening Tribune opted for a picture of Connolly clutching a boomerang.

A will to win

An aside on Connolly’s nickname, “Little Mo.” The late San Diego Union sports writer Nelson Fisher tagged Connolly with the handle, liking her deadly ground strokes to the World War II battleship USS Missouri, nicknamed “Big Mo.”

“Maureen had marvelous, marvelous ground strokes,” said longtime local tennis pro Ben Press, 89, who lived a stone’s throw from Connolly in North Park and played her often.

In fact, one reason for Connolly’s success is that she played boys and men to lift her game.